Carrier dispatch system



Oct. 26, 1926. I 1,604,554

w. J. HEPPERLE CARRIER msmwcn SYSTEM Filed Oct. 20,1925 3Sheets-Sheet 1 1 F'iZ.

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w. J. HEPPERLE CARRIER DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed Oct. 20, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I I V x I I E/ 5 3 EM vy itya'.

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- W. HEPPERLE CARRIER DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed .Oct. 20, 1925' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 jTbfjeTutor'; A WbZZa'wWv lflepp iie.

y 02% M g Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

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VVELLIAM J. KEEPER-LE, OF SYRACUSE, HEW) ASfitTGNOR TO THE LAMSON GOM- PANY, OF SYRACUSE, IIEW YGRK, A OORPORATIC'IN OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Ali-BEER IDEQPATCZ-I SYSTEIVI.

Application fil ed October 20, 1925. Serial No. 63,630.

This invention pertains to carrierv dispatch systems and more particularly to means for sorting the carriers employed in such systems into classes in accordance with their purpose or destination. Store service systems are commonly required to transmit carriers of two or'm'ore distinct: classes, for examplev carriers-intended to carry cash. carriers Which enclose credit vouchers and sometimes carriers for use in making special transactions. Commonly the carriersof the several classes are distinguished by the shapes of their heads and the separating mechanism responds differently to impact of carrier heads of different shape so as to cause carriers of the different classes respectively to enter divergent paths.

Since the heads of carriers are usually made of relatively soft materiah forexamplei felt. which wears rapidly, the heads must be renewed frequently in order to enable the selecting mechanism to distinguish with certainty between the different kinds of carrier. Moreover. the sorting mechanism employed for cooperation with such carrier heads is necessarily delicate and is often unreliable and in constant need of alteration. adjustment and repairs.

In accordance with the present invention I accomplish this sorting or separation into classes in a simple and very reliable manner irrespective of the shape or condition of the head of the carrier and by the employment of a minimum number of moving parts. so that certainty of operation is substantially assured and repairsor adjustments are minimized.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in such drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical elevation, partly in section illustrating my improved separating mechanism as adapted for the separation of carriers of three different classes;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating carriers suitable for separation by means of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

5 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section to rger scale. showing that portion of the devise of Fig. 1 designated by the numeral III and indicating a carrier of one class as on the point of being discharged from the guide tube;

4: is. a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a carrier of another class as about to pass the discharge opening and continue on its way through the tube;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section to larger scale illustrating that portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. which is designated by the numeral V and indicating carrier of one class as about to emerge laterally from the tube; and i Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a carrier of another class as about to continue on tl'irough the tube Without emergence from the lateral delivery opening.

While I contemplate that my invention adapted to separate carriers of different classes distinguished from one another by differences ofweight and'external shape, (including differences in either diameter or length) I prefer herein to describe mecha nism specially adapted for separating carriers in accordance with differences in length, although as ordinarily constructed such difference in length will also result in a corresponding difference in weight and of course, broadly speaking, in a different external. contour or shape.

Having thus provided carriers of different lengths I accomplish my desired purpose byproviding a guideway having a dis patch opening of such size and shape as to permit the passage of the shortest carriers only, and associate with such guide opening a simple type of non-positive ejector abutment. which although engaged by the longer carriers as well as by the short ones, is effective to eject only the shorter ones. If carriers of more than two classes areem-. ployed, this separating operation is repeated as many times as may be necessary successively to separate out carriers ofthe shortest classl permitting carriers of other and longer classes to proceed to the next separating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the improved ap'- paratus. the numeral 1 designates carrier guiding means which for convenience in illustration is indicated as the terminal of zontal as circumstances may require.

ill

a pneumatic dispatch tube. While the in vention is peculiarly adapted for use in separating carriers in pneumatic tube systems and while the carriers illustrated are or" the type commonly employed in such systems, I contemplate that the invention in its broader aspects may be embodied in carrier dispatch or conveyor systems of other types and using carriers of a different kind.

To the lower end of the guide member 1 a guide 2, here shown as a tube, is connected. The guide member 21 is preferably inclined and is connected at its lower end to a guide member 8 also tubular which may be of any desired length and vertical, inclined, or hori- The delivery end or the section 3 is secured in turn to the upper end of an inclined guide member 4 whose lower end is connected to the guide 5.

The guide member 2 is provided with a lateral discharge opening 6 in its upper side and the guide member a is likewise provided with a lateral dispatch opening 7. If desired a belt conveyor 8 may be disposed ad jacent to the opening 6, to receive carriers delivered from such opening and to convey them to any desiredpoint, and likewise a conveyor 9 may be associated with the opening '7. If des red, a conveyor 10 may be arranged to receive carrier's delivered through a guideway 5. lVhile belt conveyors have herein been illustrated as arranged to receive the car-*iers discharged at the several delivery points, such belt conveyors are referred to merely as illustrative of any suit able receiving means and it is to be understood that they may be omitted or replaced by chutes, baskets or any other suitable receivers.

In Fig. 2 carriers 11, 12 and 13 are illustrated for use with the separating apparatus herein described. The carrier 11, for example, may be employed for transmitting credit vouchers, the carrier 12 for conveying cash, and the carr er 13, if three classes of carrier be employed, may be used for special transactions. It is to i be understood of course that these special designations for the several carriers are merely illustrative and not in any sense restrictive of their use. As shown, the carrier 11 is the shortest, the carrier 12 of intermediate length, and the carrier 13 is the longest.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the section 2 of the guideway is shown as comprising a part 2 in which the opening 6 is formed. This part 2 may be integral with the upper part 2 of this section of the guide or separate and connected thereto as here shown.

The opening 6 in the part 2 is of a length substantially equal to or slightly greater than the length 01 the carrier 11 and extends circumierentially of the tubular section to such opening. This pivot pin 15 supports an abutment in the form of a bell crank lever con'iprising an. arm or finger 16 which normally-projects inwardly through a slot 17 in the wall or the member 2 transversely into the path of carriers moving down along the guide 2. The outer arm 18 of the bell crank lever is provided with a fixed counterweight 19 preferably integral with the arm 18. This counterweight normally holds the finger 16 up against the upper end of the slot 14.

' W'hilc a carrier 11 passes down along theguide member 2 its advancing head engages the linger 16 and tends to swing the latter downwardly. However, the inertia of the entire abutment lei er including the weight 19 is sucn that that portion of the carrier which contacts with the abutment finger is momentarily arrested, thus causing the upper end or the carrier to describe an arcuate path about the contact point of the carrier with the linger. S nce the upper head 11 of the carrier is at this time below the upper edge 2 of the opening 6 the carrier is free to topple out through the opening onto the conveyor 8 if such be provided.

\Vhen a carrier, for example the carrier 12, (Fig. l) longer than the carrier 11 moves down the guide member 2 such carrier also engages the abutment finger 16 and the abutment likewise tends to arrest such carrier. However, since the head 1 2 of this longer carrier is at this time confined behind the lip 2 at the upper end of the opening 6 the carrier is unable to describe an arcuate path about its point of contact with the abutment and the weight and momentum of the carrier then swings the abutment finger 16 out ofthe tube into the dotted line position indicated in Fig. l, the extra weight of the longer carrier being amply suflicient for this purpose. Since the carrier is unable to escape through the exit open ng itcontinues along'the tube after having pushed the abutment aside and moves downward through the tube section 3 into the section 4.

Referring more specially to Figs. 5 and 6, the section a of the guide is shown as comprising a part 1* in which the opening 7 is formed. This section i is provided with a bracket 20 -near its lower end and with a second bracket 21 near its upper end. These brackets lie in substantially the same vertical plane and project from that side of the tube opposite to the opening 7.

An abutment lever is pivoted upon a pin 22 carried by the bracket and an actuator lever is pivoted upon a pin 23 carried by the bracket 21. The abutment lever co1n prises an arm 24- normally extending in through a slot 25 in the lower part of the guide i and projecting transversely into the path oi carriers moving along the guideway. The actuator lever is likewise pro vided with an arm 26 normally projecting inwardly through a slot 27 in the guideway.

The abutment lever is provided with a second arm 28 and the actuator lever is provided with an arm 29, said latter arms being connected by a link 30 so that the abutment lever and the actuator lever are constrained to move simultaneously to the same extent. A bracket 31 is secured to the guideway and a spring 32 is connected at one end to this bracket and at the other to the arm 28. This spring tends to hold the actuator and abutment levers in normal position as shown in Fig. 5.

The opening '7 is of a length and width sufiicient to permit the discharge of carriers 12, but is of insuiiicient length to permit carriers 13 to emerge therethrough.

lissumingthat the carrier 12 above referred to has passed the opening 6 and has reached the tube section 4, its advancing head first engages the actuator lever 2'? and by contact therewith swings the latter downwardly and thus by means of the link 30 likewise swings the abutment arm 2i downwardly to inoperative position. The abutment arm 24 is spaced from the actuator arm 26 a distance somewhat greater than the length of the carrier 12, so that before the advancing head of the carrier 12 has reached the normal position of the finger or arm 2st the actuator arm 26 has been released and the spring 32 restores the actuator arm and abutment to their normal positions. The upward swing of the arm 24. takes place substantially at the instant that the advancing head of the carrier 12 comes into engagement therewith, so that the upward movement of the arm tends 'to impart a positive upward kick to the carrier at one side of the center of gravity of the latter. This assists in tipping the carrier to the position shown in Fig. 5 so that it topples out through the opening 7 onto the belt 9 or other receiving means. vVhile I contemplate that an abutment such as shown in Figs. 3 and a may be employed at this point as well as in association with the opening 6, I prefer to employ the form of abutment here shown since it has more positive action and is better adapted to deal with the heavier carriers of the type indicated by the numeral 12.

tl' erein. in combination with classes It now a carrier 13 move along the guidewa it passes the opening 6 in the same manner as carriers 12 above described and since it is even longer and heavier than the latter it readily thrusts the abutment finger 16 aside. hen this carrier 13 reaches the tube section 1 its advancing end strikes the finger 26 and depresses it, thus at the same time depressing the abutment 24:. The parts thus assume the position shown in Fig. 6 and since the upper end 13 of the'carrier 13 still engages the actuator finger 26 when its advancing end reaches the normal posi tion of the arm 24 the abutment arm 2i remains in retracted position and since the carrier is confined both at its upper and. lower ends within the tube it cannot be ejected through the opening 7 and continues on down through the tube section 5 until it finally emerges from the latter and falls vided.

I have thus provided mechanism which separates carriers into three classes in accordance with their length, and incidentally in accordance with their respective weights, and which separates the carriersv with certainty and by means of a minimum number of moving parts. In this connection it is to be observed that by properly proportioning theweight 19 orthe spring 32, carriers, even though all of a length to pass the. lateral egress opening, may be separated in accordance with differences in weight since the impact of a heavy carrier may be suiiicient to swing the abutment, while a lighter carrier would be unable to do so. Moreover, this separation does not depend upon the exact configuration of the head of the carrier and even though the heads be very materially worn the separation is effected in a reliable manner.

While I have herein illustrated preferred forms of abutment member for use in ejecting the carriers, I contemplate that other types of abutment may be found useful for the purpose and while I have shown the carriers as distinguished from each other in length, I contemplate that they might be distinguished in some other dimension and that the exit openings in the guideway would be correspondingly shaped to permit carriers of one class to escape while confin ing carriers of another class.

I claim:

1. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers oi dii ferent length, a part for directing the car riers in a predetermined path, said part havlateral exit opening shaped to permit egress of carriers of one length only, and means for ejecting carriers of said one length through the openings.

2. Qarrier dispatch mechanism having of can riers' of different lengths, 'a guide tube for the carriers, said tube having a lateral Cl-lS charge opening through which carriers of .the shortest class can pass, and means simishorter carriers through said opening.

4. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of two different lengths, a tube for guiding the car riers, said tube having av lateral exit opening of a length to permit passage of the shorter carriers and less in length than the longer carriers, and a yielding abutment projecting into the tube and engageable with all carriers passing therethrotu h, said abutment ejecting the shorter'ca ehs but yielding to permit the longer carriers to continue on through the tube.

5. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carrie s divided into classes in accordance with differences in length, a guide tube having a lateral exit opening-through which carriers of the shortest class only can pass, and a yieldable abutment element normally projecting trans versely of the tube at a point substantialfy opposite to the lower end of the opening, said abutment engaging carriers of all classes and ejecting those of the shortest class through the opening.

6. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of two different lengths, a tube for guiding the carriers, said tube having a lateral exit opening of a length to permit passage of the shorter carriers and less in length than the longer carriers, a pivoted abutment projecting into the tube for engagement with the advancing ends of all carriers passing therethrough, and means opposing sufficient resistance to movement of the abutment to enable the latter to eject the shorter carriers through the egress opening while yielding under impact of the longer carriers to permit them to continue through the tube.

7. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of two different lengths, an inclined guide for the carriers, said guide having a lateral exit opening of a length to permit egress of the shorter carriers but to prevent escape of the longer carriers, and a yielding abutment normally projecting into the path of the carriers at a point near the lower end of said opening, said abutment offering suliicient resistance to the passage of carriers Leases/ to; cause the, short carriers to topple out through the opening.

8. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of two different weights, a downwardly directed guide defining a normal path for the carriers, said guide having a lateral exitopening, and a yielding abutment normally disposed in the path of the carriers, said abutment yielding to impact of the heavier carnormally projecting into the tube through an opening in the Wall of the latter and an arm fixed relatively to said finger, said arm having a yielding means located at a point outside of the tube, tending to hold it in normal position.

10. Carrier dispatch apparatus having therein in combination with carriers of different shapes, a downwardly directed tube constituting a guide for the carriers. said tube having a lateral exit opening shaped to. permit egress of carriers of one class only, a bracket upon the outside of the tube at a point substantially in the horizontal plane of the lower end of the opening, a bell crank lever pivoted upon the bracket, one arm of the lever normally projecting into the tube through a slot in the latter, and the other arm being furnished with a yielding means tending to hold it in normal position.

11. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of dif ferent sizes, a part for guiding said carriers in a predetermined path, said part havin an egress opening of a size to permit exit 0? the smallest carriers therethrough but to prevent eXit of other carriers. and means effective for ejecting only said smallest carriers through said opening.

12. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of two different sizes, a guide member for directing said carriers in a predetermined path, said guide member having an egress opening of a size to permit the smaller carriers to pass but preventing the larger carriers from escaping therethrough, and means for ejecting the smaller carriers through said opening.

18. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of dif- 1,604,554 was out through the opening while permitting the heavier carriers LO continue on through the tube.

1st. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carders of difterent weights, a downwardly directed tube constituting a guide for the carriers, said tube having a lateral egress opening, a pivoter abutment normally projecting into the tube at a point adjacent to the lower end of said opening, and a spring'normally holding the abutment in position to cause the lighter carriers to to )ple out through the opening while permitting it to yield to impact of the heavier carriers and allow the latter to continue on through the tube.

15. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of two ditl' erent lengths, a tube for guiding the carriers, said tube having a lateral exit opening of a length to permit passage of the shorter carriers and less in length than the longer carriers, an abutment normally projecting into the tube and engageab-le with carriers passing therethrongh, and a spring for retaining said abutment in normal position, said spring resisting impact of the shorter carriers suiiiciently to cause them to topple out through the opening but yielding to permit the abutment to move out of the path ot the longer carriers.

16. Carrier dispatch apparatus having therein in combination with carriers of difterent weights, a downwardly directed guide tube for the carriers, said tube having longitudinall spaced lateral eXit openii'igs, and means for ejecting the carriers of least weight through the first opening and the carriers of next greater weight through the next- 0 )ening.

1'7. arrier dispatch apparatus having therein in combination with carriers of a plurality of different lengths, a guide tube having a plurality o1 longitudinally spaced exit openings, the first opening being of a size su'lilcient to permit passage of the shortest carriers only and the next opening permitting passage of the carriers next in length, and abutment means adjacent to each opening engageable with passing carriers and thereby causing the shortest carriers to emerge through the first opening and the carriers next in length to emerge through the next opening.

18. Carrier dispatch apparatus having therein in combination with carriers of a plurality of different lengths, a guide tube having a plurality of longitudinally spaced exit openings, the first opening being of a size suilleient to per iit passage or the short est carriers only, and the next opening permitting passage of the carriers next in length, and abutments pivotally supported at points substantially opposite to the lower ends of the respective openings, each abutment comprising a finger normally projecting into the tube, and means yieldably holding the finger in operative position.

' 19. Carrier dispatch apparatus having therein in combination with carriers of a plurality of different lengths, a guide tube having a plurality of longitudinally spaced exit openings, the first opening being of a size sulficient to permit passage of the shortest carriers only, and the next opening permitting passage of the carriers next in length, abutments pivotally supported at points substantially opposite to the lower ends of the respective openings, each abutment comprising a finger normally projecting into the tube, and means yieldably holding the linger in operative position.

20. In a carrier sorting device for pneumatic dispatch systems in which carriers of different lengths are employed, a carrier tube section provided with a lateral discharge opening through which carriers of only the shorter lengths can pass, an abutment member mounted opposite the lower edge of the discharge opening for tilting carriers therethrough, and an actuator member mounted to be engaged by carriers approaching the opening to withdraw the carrier abutment member from operative position, the longer carriers being adapted to soan both said abutment and actuator members simultaneously and the shorter carriers clearing the actuator before engaging the abutment whereby the abutment operates to discharge the shorter carriers through the opening.

2].. Carrier dispatch apparatus having therein in combination with carriers of a plurality of diiierent lengths, a guide tube having a plurality of longitudinally spaced exit openings, the first opening being of a size sutlicient to permit passage of the shortest carriers only and the next opening permitting passage of the carriers next in length, abutments pivotally supported upon the tube at points substantially opposite to the lower ends of the respective openings, each abutment comprising a finger normally projecting through an opening in the wall of the tube into the path of the carriers, means for yieldingly retaining the finger of one abutment in operative position, and a spring yieldably retaining the finger of the other abutment in position.

22. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of different weights, a downwardly directed tube constituting a guide for the carriers, said tube having a lateral egress opening, a pivoted abutment normally projecting into the tube at a point near the lower end of the opening, an actuator projecting into the tube near the top of said opening, means connecting the actuator to the abutment, and means yieldingly holding the actuator and abutment in normal position.

23. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein in combination with carriers of different weights, a downwardly directed tube constituting a guide for the carriers, said 15 tube having a lateral egress opening, an

abutment lever pivotally. supported at a point substantially diametrically opposite to the lower end of the opening, said lever having an arm normally projecting into the tube, an actuator lever pivoted at a point substantially diametrically opposite to the upper end of said opening, a link connecting the actuator lever to the abutment lever,

and a spring" tending to retain the actuator lever and the abutment lever in operative position.

Signed by me at Syracuse, New York, this seventeeth day of October, 1925.

I VVILLIAlil J. HEPPERLE. 

